What are Ecoffee Cups made from?
Ecoffee cups are made from Moso bamboo. Ecoffee Cup say that their cups are made up of ‘approximately 60% bamboo fibre, which can vary according to size of the Cup, plus corn starch.’ The corn starch used is non-GMO. These are combined ‘to form a paste which is then mixed with a resin created from amino acids. When plant fibre is put into warm, damp conditions, like a compost heap or buried in the ground, the resin will start to break down, which in-turn allows the fibres to break down; eventually the product will biodegrade unlike conventional plastic.’ The lid and protective sleeve are made of food grade silicone.
Where do Ecoffee Cups come from?
Ecoffee cup say that ‘Our bamboo is sourced from Anji County in Zhejiang province, China, one of the world’s oldest, sustainably-managed forests. They have been commercially harvesting bamboo in this region for several hundred years. The bamboo industry in Anji sustains 10,000 farming families and represents a new face of manufacturing in China: clean and sustainable.’
Are Ecoffee Cups sustainable?
Bamboo is a fast-growing grass that is generally seen as being one of the most sustainable plants due to the speed at which it grows. It’s growth rate can be up to a meter per week! When bamboo is felled, no replanting is required, because shoots will re-grow from the root system, making it very efficient, but this means it can be considered invasive if not native to the area (as you may know if you have bamboo in your garden!) Bamboo grows packed close together, so a small area of land can produce a high yield in comparison to that of trees, which need more space to grow. Bamboo naturally contains an anti-microbial substance known as ‘bamboo-kun’ which makes bamboo resistant to fungi growth and pests, which means it can be grown organically. (That isn’t to say that all bamboo is organic, as some farmers do use synthetic pesticides or fertilizers.) Bamboo is good at carbon capture, and produces more oxygen than most types of young trees. If bamboo farms are managed sustainably, they can help reduce deforestation, as they provide a multi-purpose fast growth crop that is easy to harvest, and the same crop can be harvested again and again, unlike conventional logging of hardwood and softwood trees.
Ecoffee cup say that ‘Our bamboo processing is both simple and comparatively benign. Bamboo is felled, sun-dried and no chemicals and little water is used to procure our raw ingredient.’
Silicone is a polymer made from silica, which is sand. The chemicals used in and produced by the creation of silicone for consumer applications are much less harmful (e.g. acetic acid, which is found in vinegar) than the ones used in plastic production. Moreover, it is inert, so does not emit any chemicals or toxins, even when heated. Silicone does not biodegrade, but it can be recycled. Generally considered to be a safer and more environmentally friendly alternative to plastic for many uses, silicone is not a replacement for plastic entirely because of the difference in properties between these materials.
How about ethical?
Ecoffee cup say ‘Our factory is ISO 9001 accredited and complies with all international regulations on workplace human rights and working conditions. It has BSCI and SEDEX (Supplier Ethical Data Exchange) accreditation’.
Extra good stuff:
Ecoffee cups are biodegradable, yay! When your cup come to the end of its life, simply recycle the silicone sleeve, take the bamboo cup and ‘crush it, soak in boiling water and bury it with organic compost.’ It will decompose in around 24-36 months.
Conclusion –
Don’t use your sluggish morning brain as an excuse for single-use coffee cups, remember to take a reusable one with you. I’d like disposable coffee cups to go please!
